"Yes. It is so tiresome her moving about so much. I care for her more than for any woman in London. All this time she's been in Paris doing things for Adelaide Shiffney."
"Did Madre know about to-night?"
"No."
"Why didn't you tell her? Why not have asked her to come? We belong to her and she to us. It would have been natural."
"I love Madre. But I didn't want even her to-night."
Claude realized that he was assisting at a prelude. But he only said:
"I suppose she is going to Mrs. Shiffney's to-night?"
"Yes."
When they had finished Charmian said:
"Now I'll clear away."